So if you actually grow garlic (compared with reading about it) when do
plant and harvest? *What is the relationship to your seasons? *What is your
climate like?

David

As you can imagine much depends on the variety and soil/climate. It
is much different an approach in the cool, wet, clay acidic soils of
the Pacific Northwest than your climate. ours here are mostly softneck
varieties.

But to your questions I planted several different varieties in various
parts of the yard in the mid to late fall, Try to get them in before
the rains come at Duck season. but not necessary, just as long as I
get them in before Mid December I have some to use the next season.
Most of these I let go native, some are companions, some are just
green sprouts left too long in the veggie bow that I plant among the
flower boxes. I even have a little patch near the marjoram used for
garlic chives now, came up same time as the crocus, the other patches
along with reds and shallots will grow to maturity in a corner of the
garden.

This is probably on your reading list: http://www.garlic.com.au/growing.html

This is from OR, a more southern and dryer climate than here in the
Puget Sound/ Mt Rainier swirl but good background info:

http://nwrec.hort.oregonstate.edu/garlic.html

shallot tricks/tips for the PNW:
http://www.rainyside.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5025